Final de Novela En Patagonia

This latest work by noted Argentine author/essayist Giardinelli, which received the 2000 Premio Grandes Viajeros, is ostensibly a travel book describing a trip to the harsh, mysterious, and isolated land of Patagonia. But it is also a fascinating trip into the mind of a novelist struggling through ""writer's block."" Giardinelli weaves in his thoughts on the works of great Argentine writers, with special mention of works written about Patagonia such as Los duenos de la tierra (The Owners of the Earth, Losada, 1958) and La traduccion (The Translation, Destino, 1997). This is a personal memoir as much as a travel adventure. The language is heavily regional and formal, and the author often slips into using vosotros, the familiar second-person-plural, which may turn off some U.S. Hispanic readers. But the combination of travelog, storytelling, and personal musings keeps the reader engrossed and entertained. Highly recommended for bookstores with travel sections and literature collections in academic and public libraries. Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA